A Montana 4-H Story
Leneva Miller never imagined where 4-H would take her.
Leneva Miller,
Beaverhead County 4-H Member
At eight years old, Leneva Miller joined 4-H for the horses.
Thanks to supporters like you, she found so much more.
Continuing her family's long connection to horses, Leneva joined the Horseprairie Hayshakers 4-H Club with a family horse named Chance. She eventually saved enough to buy her own horse, Piper, with help from her grandparents.
As Leneva progressed through 4-H, volunteers and older members encouraged her. Soon, she found success in the show ring and beyond. Yet when she reflects on her 4-H experience, she rarely starts by talking about ribbons and winning competitions.
She talks about the leaders and generous donors who made her experiences possible.
When she was 15, Leneva joined a horse judging team. After much preparation, they won first place at Montana 4-H Congress! This earned them the opportunity to represent Montana at the Western National Roundup, held alongside the National Western Stock Show in Denver.
For many families, a national trip like that could feel financially out of reach. However, community members, as well as donors through the Montana 4-H Foundation, invested in these young people.
"It was cool that other people wanted to support us," Leneva said.
The team competed against some of the best horse judging teams in the nation and finished sixth overall at the Western National Roundup. But the competition was only part of the experience.
At the Western National Roundup career fair, Leneva spoke with representatives from the FBI about animal crime investigations. She also toured the Temple Grandin Equine Center at Colorado State University and learned about animal rehabilitation, veterinary medicine, and therapy programs.
"Now I can see how many different career paths you can take with animals,” Leneva said. “I probably wouldn't have known about any of this without 4-H."
That is exactly why your support matters. Your gift does more than help young people attend events—it helps them discover who they can become.
“I probably wouldn’t have known about any of this without 4-H.”
Leneva Miller
Today, Leneva emcees awards ceremonies, leads workshops, serves as a Beaverhead County Ambassador, and mentors younger members through camps and skill-a-thons.
“Can you help me saddle my horse?” is a common question she hears at the weekly county ride night. Young members now turn to Leneva for advice, just as she once looked to older 4-Hers for guidance. As Leneva mentors others, her confidence grows.
To create more stories like Leneva’s, we need your help.
Young people across Montana are eager to attend leadership conferences, statewide competitions, and national events. Many are finding confidence for the first time—and building skills that will serve them for the rest of their lives.
Yet none of these opportunities happen on their own.
Your generosity removes financial barriers and helps young people, like Leneva, discover that their future may be bigger than they ever imagined.
Will you make a generous gift to support Montana 4-H youth?
Your gift will create opportunities for more Montana 4-H youth to learn, lead, and grow through 4-H, just as Leneva did.
Written by:
Montana 4-H Foundation
